World Cup Qualifier: McCarthy attains hero status

Mick McCarthy, on the brink of finally taking Ireland to the finals of a major tournament will virtually be able write his own terms for a new managerial contract should they qualify for the big World Cup show in Japan and South Korea next summer.

That is a hugely realistic prospect now after the fighting Irish, down to 10 men when Gary Kelly was sent off 12 minutes into the second half, still squeezed out Holland’s orange aristocrats on an epoch-making afternoon at Lansdowne Road.